Land Rover Freelander 2 i6 3.2 Review: Off the beaten track

Taking a leaf out of its ex-sister brand Volvo, the Freelander 2 puts a string emphasis on safety - it comes with safety kit like seven airbags, brake assist, Cornering Brake Control, Roll Stability Control, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Traction Control and so on.

In HSE spec, it also comes kitted out with a push button start system, front and rear parking sensors, rain sensors, auto bi-Xenon headlamps, two-zone climate control, powered front seats, panoramic sunroof, a 9-speaker Alpine audio system with in-dash CD changer, Bluetooth telephone, 18-inch alloy wheels and so on.

All Frelander 2s from Malayan come with 3 years or up to 100,000km warranty as well as a 3-year or up to 64,000km free maintenance to banish the convention that Land Rovers are unreliable and are prone to mechanical problems.

The Freelander 2 won't be an automatic choice for those who are hunting for a premium compact SUV. A Lexus RX might be more refined and quieter, an Audi Q5 might be quicker while those who put safety as top of the agenda will prefer the Volvo XC60 but for sheer off road capabilities and a ‘go-anywhere' attitude, the Land Rover Freelander 2 is unsurpassed among its competitors. There is also a certain old school English charm about it that makes it very likable.

Credits: Off the Beaten Track